McSweeny Announces Retirement After 28-Year Career at the FAA

WASHINGTON - Thomas E. McSweeny, associate administrator
for Regulation and Certification (AVR) at the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), has announced his retirement from the
agency after a nearly 28-year career that set new standards and a
high focus on continuous national and international aviation safety
improvements.

"Tom has had a long a distinguished career at the FAA," said
Administrator Jane F. Garvey. "He has made invaluable
contributions in the areas of safety certification and international
standards and has brought a high degree of technical expertise to
the management team. All of us at the agency will miss him and
wish him well in his future endeavors."

In a message to AVR employees, McSweeny said he is joining
The Boeing Company. He will be director for International Safety
and Regulatory Affairs, a position that will enable him to stay in
the Washington area. He will be prohibited from any contact with
the FAA for one year after his retirement, effective within the
next month.

"My decision to retire from the agency after so many wonderful
years was not taken lightly," McSweeny said. "It has been a truly
rewarding experience, heightened by my association with a cadre
of outstanding public servants who care deeply about aviation
safety."

McSweeny joined the FAA in April 1974 as a GS-11 engineer in
Hawthorne, California, rising steadily in positions of increasing
importance. He came to the FAA's Washington Headquarters in
1979 and served in several capacities in the Office of Regulation
and Certification. He served as manager of the Engineering
Division in Aircraft Certification from December 1982 to July
1989, when he was named deputy director of the Aircraft
Certification Service. He was named director in 1993.
Administrator Garvey tapped him for his current position in
October 1998.

As associate administrator, McSweeny was responsible for the
certification and continued airworthiness of aircraft; certification of
pilots, mechanics and others in aviation safety-related positions;
development of regulations; civil flight operations and the
certification and safety oversight of U.S. commercial airlines and
air operators.